Abstract The common design approach for minimum reinforcement for crack control is based on the cracking force of the cross‐section. A distinction is made between centric restraint, bending restraint, a combination of centric restraint and bending restraint, and bending restraint with normal compressive force. To obtain economical results, several reduction factors are applied for eigenstresses, early‐age cracking, and the effective concrete area. Although this method as defined in EN 1992‐1‐1:2015 and further specified in DIN EN 1992‐1‐1/NA and ÖNORM B 1992‐1‐1, is straightforward, its reductions in tensile strength represent pragmatic rather than mechanically consistent assumptions. The new proposal in EN 1992‐1‐1:2023 continues to rely on a reduction of the tensile strength in order to achieve economical reinforcement quantities. Therefore, this paper proposes an alternative design concept that preserves the familiar structure of the established model of EN 1992‐1‐1:2015 while representing restrained cracking behavior in a more consistent mechanical manner while avoiding problematic assumptions for the tensile strength.
Schlicke et al. (2026) studied this question.